Eric Pickles' expenses

Eric Pickles, the Conservative party chairman, claimed mortgage interest of
about £250 a month and service charges of £750 a year for a flat in east
London. His designated main home is 29 miles away in his Essex constituency.

The MP, who made relatively few claims, also billed the public purse for up to £200 a month for cleaning, and £280 for his monthly grocery bill and other household bills. He stopped using the additional costs allowance to run his designated second home when he was made party chairman earlier this year.

In December 2006 an official from the office wrote to him, noting that he made regular, unspecified claims for hundreds of pounds for repairs, insurance or security. Mr Pickles “agreed, in future, to provide extra detail”. At that time, receipts were not required for individual costs lower than £250.